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From 1972 to 2004, Mayne Hall functioned as the University of Queensland’s hall for concerts and graduation ceremonies. Designed by prominent Australian architect Robin Gibson, the hall is an exemplar of his modernist style of architecture. Mayne Hall is now known as the James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre, housing the University of Queensland Art Museum.



Origin
Mayne Hall was originally a competition project held in 1963 and was formerly known as the University of Queensland’s ‘Great Hall Competition’. Australian architect Stuart McIntosh was originally the winner of the open competition. However, due to an apparent lack of funds, both the design and the appointment of McIntosh was dismissed. In 1971, Robin Gibson was appointed as the architect of the project which was then renamed to ‘Mayne Hall’. The change of name was one which honoured the university’s key benefactors, James O’ Niel Mayne and Mary Emelia Mayne. The University of Queensland, as the client of the project, required the design to be financially and functionally viable within their brief. It was with the approval of their University architect James Maccormick and vice chancellor Zelman Cowen that Gibson’s design was approved and completed in 197.

Overview
Location

Situated in the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus, Mayne Hall was designed and positioned to compliment the campus and its surrounding buildings. Of these, the Forgan Smith Building (the university’s main symbolic building) was used as a design counterpoint for Mayne Hall. Gibson had designed the building simultaneously with the Central Library. In this way both buildings were strategically designed to compliment their symmetrical positioning on either side of the Forgan Smith building. In their designs they worked to balance out the scale and the materiality of the Forgan Smith Tower.

Function

The hall accommodated 1450 seats purposed for viewing various ceremonies and musical concerts. Its acoustic qualities were praised and sought after by the Brisbane community, as it was frequently used as the venue for groups such as the ABC, and the Queensland Symphonic Orchestra.

Design
Mayne Hall was one of few buildings at the University of Queensland designed by architect Robin Gibson. It is believed that its simplistic design and use of steel, glass and concrete was characteristic of not only Gibson but also the twentieth century architects of the modern movement

Style

The hall is a simplistic rectangular prism with a loggia sheltering the glass façade on the southern face. The glass is used to reflect the surrounding buildings, movement and life along the university mall. Its use of large steel members for the roof and the façade can be referenced to Mies Van Der Rohe & his choice in materials. Its priority given to the function rather than the form of the building also references the ideas of the modern architectural movement of the time.

Additions

The Mayne Hall was renovated by Wilson Architects and reopened in 2004 to serve for different functions as the graduation ceremonies were moved to the UQ Centre. Whilst the exterior was maintained, the interior was completely renovated to function as an art gallery space.